Purinergic interplay between erythrocytes and platelets in diabetes-associated vascular dysfunction

Cardiovascular complications in diabetes are the leading causes for high morbidity and mortality. It has been shown that alteration of purinergic signaling contributes to diabetes-associated cardiovascular complications. Red blood cells (RBCs) and platelets play a fundamental role in regulation of oxygen transport and hemostasis, respectively. Of note, these cells undergo purinergic dysfunction in diabetes. Recent studies have established a novel function of RBCs as disease mediators for the development of endothelial dysfunction in type 2 diabetes (T2D). RBC-released ATP is defective in T2D, which has implication for induction of vascular dysfunction by dysregulating purinergic signaling. Platelets are hyperactive in diabetes. ADP-mediated P2Y(1) and P2Y(12) receptor activation contributes to platelet aggregation and targeting P2Y receptors particularly P2Y(12) receptor in platelets is effective for the treatment of cardiovascular events. In contrast to other P2Y(12) receptor antagonists, platelet-targeting drug ticagrelor has potential to initiate purinergic signaling in RBCs for the beneficial cardiovascular outcomes. It is increasingly clear that altered vascular purinergic signaling mediated by various nucleotides and nucleoside contributes to diabetes-associated vascular dysfunction. However, the contribution of complex purinergic networks between RBCs and platelets to the vascular dysfunction in diabetes remains unclear. This study discusses the possible interplay of RBCs and platelets via the purinergic network for diabetes-associated vascular dysfunction.